Hamburg lists former Upper Bern Elementary School

With the construction of an elementary school underway in Shoemakersville, Hamburg Area school directors decided on April 22 to put a former elementary school up for sale.

School directors agreed to list the former Upper Bern Elementary School in Shartlesville for $450,000 with Century 21.

“The district no longer needs the Upper Bern property,” Superintendent Steven Keifer said. “That property costs the district about $50,000 a year. We need to keep insurance on the property, keep some heat on and have someone check on it daily.”

With Perry Elementary Center dedicated to Esther H. Ludwig scheduled to open for the 2014-15 school year and Tilden Elementary Center about to complete its fifth year of existence, the former school in Shartlesville was out of the picture.

The elementary school in Shoemakersville will have room for expansion when completed and Tilden Elementary Center and Hamburg Area Middle School can also be expanded, said Keifer.

In other news, school directors approved three change orders for Perry Elementary Center.

$19,370 was added to the project for 298 cubic yards of over-excavation and backfill due to unsuitable soil at the west end of the bus drive along Fifth Street.

$7,930 was added for 122 cubic yards of over-excavation and backfill due to unsuitable soils at the east end of the bus drive along Fifth Street.

$2,081 was deducted for unused labor and material allowances during utility relocation on Reber Street.

In other news, school directors approved Dennis F. Wagner, auctioneer, to hold an auction for surplus liquidation at Perry Elementary School on June 3.

School directors approved a beverage contract with PepsiCo.The district’s current seven-year contract with Coca-Cola expires on July 31. For the past 12 years the district has been in partnership with Coke.

The guaranteed cash and incentive cash in the deal were greater from Pepsi, according to Athletic Director Aaron Menapace.

The district was also looking for a shorter deal (three years) than what Coke was offering (five years), said Menapace.

School directors met in executive session prior to the meeting to discuss personnel and contracts. No details were available.

School director Marianna Burns was absent.

The next meeting of school directors is Monday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the James A. Gilmartin Community Room.